Written by Jacob Whitaker.
In a major policy shift, several top hospitals and medical providers have announced they are halting transgender procedures for minors following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. The order bans federal funding for puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and gender-related surgeries for anyone under 19, labeling them as “destructive and life-altering.”
This decision has already led to an abrupt change in policies at many institutions that previously offered these treatments. Some providers are choosing to comply immediately, while others are still evaluating how the order will affect their operations.
The Numbers Behind the Shift
Between 2019 and 2023, an estimated 13,000 minors underwent medical procedures to alter their biological sex, according to data from the nonprofit Do No Harm. These procedures ranged from puberty blockers and hormone therapy to irreversible surgeries such as mastectomies and genital reconstruction.
Ohio, one of the leading states in performing these procedures on minors, has since enacted laws banning them outright. Other states may soon follow, especially as the federal government tightens regulations on medical providers that continue offering gender transition services to minors.
Medical Providers Adjust Their Policies
In response to inquiries about how they will proceed under the new order, several major hospitals and clinics provided statements.
UW Medicine said in an email that while they remain committed to their patients’ well-being, they are also ensuring compliance with federal and state laws. Seattle Children’s Hospital, one of the nation’s top prescribers of puberty blockers, has reportedly suspended those services. Notably, their gender-affirmation surgery webpage has also been removed, signaling a possible long-term shift.
MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma acknowledged the executive order but emphasized they do not perform gender-affirming surgeries. They stated they are “monitoring the situation” as they wait to see how the directives turn into enforceable rules.
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., announced that it would no longer prescribe puberty blockers or hormone therapy. They also clarified that they had never performed gender-related surgeries before the order.
Massachusetts-based Cooley Dickinson Hospital said they are still reviewing the impact of the order but, for now, will continue providing care as usual. Similarly, the University of Michigan Health System stated they are assessing the executive order’s impact while ensuring they remain compliant with federal regulations.
More Hospitals Follow Suit
Virginia’s VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond confirmed they would no longer provide gender transition services for minors, citing both the executive order and additional state guidance. They assured patients that they would still offer mental health support and general healthcare services.
On the West Coast, UCSF’s Gender Affirming Care clinic in San Francisco and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles both announced they are ending gender-related services for minors. New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center gave a vague response, stating only that they would provide updates when available.
Meanwhile, major pediatric hospitals in Chicago and Philadelphia are still evaluating their policies, leaving some uncertainty about whether they will comply. Other medical providers have yet to respond to inquiries, leaving open the possibility that some may attempt to challenge or resist the new federal directive.
Our Take
This executive order represents a major turning point in the debate over gender transition procedures for minors. With leading hospitals backing away from these treatments, it’s clear that legal and financial pressures are shaping medical policies. While advocates argue that such procedures are critical for transgender youth, the reality is that these treatments often have irreversible consequences, and young people are not always in the best position to make such life-altering decisions.
From a conservative standpoint, this move is a necessary step to protect vulnerable children from medical interventions that may lead to long-term regret. The rise in gender transition treatments for minors in recent years has been concerning, particularly given how aggressively some activists have pushed for these procedures. Parents should have the final say in their child’s medical care, and society has a duty to prevent young people from making decisions they may not fully understand.
As the legal landscape continues to shift, more hospitals will likely follow suit. This executive order may be a sign that the tide is turning on a medical trend that has raised serious ethical concerns.
